Railroad car truck and brake construction



Sept. l, i936.

l 2x2/ogs' /0 In 8 l 9 .t 0 3 .n 5 Q u 2 e e m N O4 T. T C U R T s A. w SM1 Z LR, LB5. 7 MDh NC al AAM M .w RU HUd .l Re TH RF A C D A O R L I A R Sept. l, 1936. H. A. MlLLs RAILROAD CAR TRUCK AND BRAKE CONSTRUCTION 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 5, 1934 Sept l, 1936. H' A,v M|L1 5 2,053,098

' RAILROAD CA TRUC-K AND BRAKE CONSTRUCTION Filed March 5, 1954 4 sheets-sheet 3 sept. l, 1936. H, A, MLS v2,053,098

RAILROAD CAR TRUCK AND BRAKE CONSTRUCTION Filed `MaIIGh 5, 1934 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Sept. 1, 1936 AUNITED STATES Farrar corr-ics RAILROAD CAR TRUCK AND 'BRAKE 'CONSTRUCTION Harry A; Mills, Grand Rapids, Mich.

Application March A5, 1934, Seral No. 714,050

9 Claims.

l `.cal manner, :and with the .removal or .disconnect- -`ing of aaminimum'of parts. `:One .veryimarkedadvantage `with my invention isa complete .elimination of the transverse @brake beams .now used, which are pivotally suspended on pivot pins. Thesepivot pins ,quite frequently are jolted .loose -or otherwisebecome disconnected whereupon the` :brake beam :drops downwardly at its disconnected .fend v'andstrikes against and ftears up vthe track with, `of .coursajgreat .damage and injury tofthe Ientire -fbrakingvmechanism Many other 4olzrjectsand purposes than those stated and novel `constructionsfor attaininguthe same, together with the `provision of a braking rmechanism and operating means thereforwhich isiecatedat a mucmhigher plane thanipreviously fsozthattherefis .no chance for the same to strike A.against the railroad bed or ties, .nor any brake .beams :toidrop down .and strike :the railroad bed, will .be-apparent as :an understandingfof .the invention is 4hadf'rom the following-description, :taken in connection .withfthe accompanying-draw- ;ings, in which,v

`Eig. -l is a side-'elevation of the car'truckrwith amy invention @applied thereto.

rFig..2 is aplan view offthe cartruck-.andbraking mechanism ofmy invention.

Fig. 3 is la fragmentary venlarged vertical section :substantially on the .planeof 'line 3-3 `of Fig. 2 looking in'fthe direction of 'the Larrows.

'Fig. =;4 iisfa fragmentary horizontalsection and planrsubstantially on the plane of the vline 4 4 0f Fig.A 3'lookingldownwardly.

Fig. fisa fragmentary vertical section substantially-ontheplaneof lineE-Ei of Fig. 4.

Fi'gx `is .a fragmentary transverse section on linefiG-JB offliigf2;

Fig. 7 .isfaslike vertical transverse section on the line -1--1 :of Fig. 2, 'the direction -`of the views in fEigs. 6 and Tibeing indicated 'by the arrows.

fligs is a .perspective View ofr the bolster carry- (Cl. .18S-53) ing-yokeusedpone for .each lend of the ybolsterand carried by a truck side frame.

Fig. i9 is affragmentary section illustrating the marmerof mounting a .supportfor a link -which l iis utilized in .operating the brakes.

Fig. l isl afdiagrammatic plan view showing rthe manner in which the truck side frame may be vreadily removed. f

Fig. 1'1 is a section similar to Fig. .2 illustrating my invention :applied tothe side-frames yofV trucks now used Yon railroads, and

Fig. 12 is .al fragmentary end elevation kof the ,structure shown Fig. 1.

Like reference characters frefer to like `parts `in .the diiferent'gures of the drawings.

`The truck used for carrying railroad Lcars'fincludes two :side truck'f-rames il, whichl-ateachend `are provided 'with :journal boxes A2 'to receive :the

`end portions :of axles Siwhi'ch `.rotate .thereineach axle carrying `4a pair of car wheels "4 jspaced vapart from eachfiotherproper distances to ride on :rail- `road Ittracks;

A truck side framef'l at itsv intermediate .portion includesian upper horizontalmember L6, la lower horizontal member .1 with `spaced apart vertical :members l8, makingarectangular trame `structure surrounding a irectangularopening. 'Between ithe :two'side fframetmembers of a Strucka horizontal- '1yv located spring .pa-n' 9. is disposed, resting atzits endsfiupon fthe lowerhorizontal -parts v1. .which .preferablyin their upper'sides '(Fig. '6) 'have :depressions :therein to 'receive :downwardly projecting fembossings -Sa :from ftheibottom of .the spring .pan 9 and thus hold the Vspring '.pan fromfendwise movement. JThe spring pan is preferably of ya channel shape having ahorizontal web .andaupturned 'side flanges.

Y Assemblies of -coiled springsfare mounted onfthe 'springtpan Yat .the end lportions thereof rdirectly over the horizontal portions 'l of the sideframes, -.eachinc1uding--a metal member Ill-against which the lower ends of heavy coiled springs Il bear, .their upper ends bearing againsta ysimilar -member I.2. In fpractice there are Ausually four -of .the vcoiled .springs in each :spring arssemltgly.V A bolster .I3` extends between the side .frame memlbers of the truckandbears-atits endportions on the upper part'ilQZV of the spring assemblies, the upper side of the end tportions of the bolster coming against the lower sides of the horizontal uppermembers 6 of thefram'esas shownin Fig. 3.

W ith `my invention a metal yoke is provided to embrace and locate eachend ofthe'bolster 13. The yoke (Fig. 8) `-has a Yhorizontal lower `side 4Ill -with upwardly extending vertical ends l5. The

lower side or bottom of the yoke is cut away to make a recessed portion of a width equal to the width of the bolster at the ends where the yoke is placed, as indicated at I4a; and the vertical parts I 5 are likewise recessed at their outer sides making in each a relatively wide vertical guide groove I6. At each lower corner of the yoke there is also provided outwardly extending lugs I'I. The inner sides of the vertical parts 8 of the truck side frame previously described are formed with metal guide ribs I8 of a proper shape to be received within the guide grooves I5 ofthe.

yoke. Such members I8 extend downwardly below the yoke when it is in its operative position as shown in Fig. 3. The bolster I3 at each side and at each end thereof is provided with vertical spaced apart ribs I9 between which the Vertical sides I5 of the yoke are slidably received, and the bolster at its lower side is cut away substantially the thickness of the bottom I4 of the yoke making a recess into which said Ybottom enters, as shown in Fig. 6. i

In Y assembling the bolster, supporting yokes therefor and the truck side frame members, rthe yoke is located so as to rest upon the spring pan 9, the bolster entered thereinto and then the bolster and yoke are elevated to their upper position as .shown in Fig. 1. Thereafter the spring assembly, consisting of the springs II and the parts I0 and I2 is put in place. A block or shim indicated at Illa is many times used underneath the lower member I0 of the spring assembly. After the yoke has been assembled in place and engaged with the guide ribs I8, stops 20 are welded or otherwise secured to the inner sides' of the vertical members 8 in a position such as to prevent the yoke dropping down far enough to completely disengage from the ribs I8, when the springs are removed. However, the supporting yoke is permitted to lower far enough that, when supported on the stops 20, the bolster may be lifted above the yokes so as to disengage therefrom, whereupon the bolster may be readily moved lengthwise to disengage at one end from'aV side frame of the truck and then tilted and moved longitudinally the other way todisengage the opposite end, this being indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 7. This leaves the spring pan 9 in place and there are no parts of the mechanism for operating the brakes connected in anyY manner to the bolster which when once disengaged from the yokes described may be readily removed or as readily re'- placed. This provides a very simple and practical assembly and is very convenient for disassembly and removal of the bolster when desired, as in cases of repair or ,replacement The brakes and the operating means therefor are carried by the truck side frames. Integral supporting bosses 2I and 22 are cast with the side truck frames so as to extend inwardly (Fig. 2) at each side of and slightly above the spring pan 9. A plate 23 is disposedbetween the supporting bosses 2I Vand 22 (Figs. 3 and 4). Such plate at one end is narrowed, at 24, for reception ina slot cut in the part 22, and at the other end has a projecting narrowed portion 25 which passes through a suitable slot cut in the part 2| and is secured thereto as bya pin 26. As shown in Fig. 4, the part 2I is cut away to permit swinging movement of the plate 23 during its disassembly. The plate 24. is provided with a rectangular opening 21 (Fig. 4) as shown. From each sideiof the plate 24 directly over the spring pan 9 `(Fig. 3) downwardly extending sides 28 are provided, each formed with a horizontal slot 29 therein near the lower edge of the side.

Brake shoes 30 each detachably mounted and installed upon the usual conventional brake head 2I are carried at the outer ends of bars 32 and 33 respectively, which are horizontally located and slidably mounted upon and extend through the bosses 2I and 22, respectively. `The bars 32 and 33 extend toward each other and at their inner ends pass above the sides of the spring pan 9. A block 34 of metal is mounted on and between the sides 28 previously described on a pin or rod 35 which passes therethrough and through the slots 29 in the sides 28. Its upper portion passes through the opening 2l in the plate 23, and is provided with a dog 36 at one side which stops turning movement of the block 34 about the pin 35 when the same engages against the plate 23, as shown in Fig. 5. Said block 34 in its under side is slotted to provide a slot 3l into which the inner end of the bar 32 extends. A link 38 is pivotally connected at one end to the inner end of the bar 32, and is connected at its opposite end, by means of a pivot pin 39, to the block 34 below the pin 35. The inner end of the other bar 33 is pivotally connected to one end of a similar link 40 which is pivotally connectedV to the block 34 by a pin 4I, located above the pivot 35 a distance equal to that of the pin 39 below the pivot 35.

It will be apparent that on turning the block 34 upwardly about its pivot 35 there is a simultaneous and equal outward movement of the rods 32 in opposite directions and 33 which brings the'brake shoes 3E] against the car wheels 4. It is also evident that by reason of the slot at 29, if one brake shoe 3U is thinner than the other or has been worn more than the other, though the thicker brake shoe may come to a wheel ahead of the thinner shoe, the pin 35 by its movement permitted in the slots 29 will automatically move to a position such that the engagement of the brake shoes 30 against the wheels will be with equal pressure until such time that one brake shoe is enough thinner than the other that the pin 35 come to one end of the slots 29,whereupon the thinner brake shoe will not thereafter bear against the car wheel with which it is associated and will not thereafter wear, vthus safeguarding against any grinding off or damage to the brake head SI in which the shoe is mounted. When such action occurs, the thin brake shoe is substantial'- ly worn out and should be replaced by another.

In turning the member 34 about its pivot 35 to set the brakes, a pull rod 42 is used at one end having a plurality of spaced apart openings 43 for passing a p-in 44 therethrough and through the member 34, as shown in Fig. 5, the holes 43 permitting a limited range of adjustment. The pull rod 42 is connected to a link 45 at-a joint between the ends of the link. The link 45 at its outer end is pvoted to ears 46 cast integral with and extending from the adjacent vertical member 8 of the side frame of the truck. The link extends from the ears 4S upwardly and inwardly. There being two of the links 45, one for each side of the truck, the inner ends of the same are connected to the ends of an arc-shaped equalizer yoke 47 by a pin and slot connection shown at 48. Rod 49 is attached at the midpoint of yoke 4l' and from thence extends .to the air mechanism which when operated exerts a longitudinal pull on the rod 49 in a direction to the right, as shown in Fig. 2, and in any. event 'order` .toiremovetheisideframese ofthe truck .the spring. pan,zbrakeibeamsr safety irons, brake shoes 'inA a :directionrawayffirom1the.truck toward@ the compressed air motive powers: Thezblock'f34tfsee Figzf, tends Eto turn'count'erel'ockwlse duezto the eccentric pivoti35 fand .thus..lthis .gravitational effec-t1. aids. finl fwi-thdrawingf. ythe :brake:k shoes-to inoperative* positionlf The .linksi45 arci supported inwardly from :their 'pointsof connection to` the'pully lro'ds 4220i). link supports f 5w, which are'.` .mounted- Inponv .r spaced lapar-t ears-22a .extending horizontally inward fromfftlre Ibosses 22T;4 The supportingvstandards for the supportsi-Pat theirdowerf endslfa're equipped-with cylindrical projections 5l and.-be tween' the ends of "the cylindrical portions 15 iieach 'ii/""li' a part EaZ-whichislrectangularinfcross.'section. The lower' ear- 2Zaha'si a recess-'to' receive the'lower end of the part-r52itliereby1holding'the same 2 ffrom rotative f lmovement. By' lifting i the link support-50' a short kdistance so'. as vto fraise part 52" 'above its recess, the f support mayl be turned to the 1 dottedlline-position .shown-'in Fig. 2, f thus permitting Ythe *supporti 50hl to' pass: by. the adjacent lWheel 4 which lit would otherwise strike if it v-wa's heldiiinthefull line. positiony shown-in Fig. 2.

The construction described Aison'eV which permits very easy disassembly. Yforexampleii a sidetruckffra'mel is toube removed `there/ische pinrcniy vwhichI needs-. to be removed..` Tlfiatfv is, the pin at the inner end. oir thexlink .45' which connects such-'Vlinkwwith the equalizing yoke 41. Then by turning the link support 5S to the dotted line position shown in Fig. 2, withdrawing the spring assembly from beneath the end of the bolster, and dropping the bolster yoke down until the same rests upon the stops 2i), the entire side frame member of the truck with the brakes and associated operating mechanism mounted thereon may be removed. It is, of course, to be understood that in such removal some auxiliary means for holding or supporting the bolster I3 and the spring pan 9 will be used such as an overhead chain, or blocks underneath the spring pan and bolster. Either side of the truck frame may be very simply and easily removed and any repairs which are necessary thereon can then be accomplished. The return of the side frame of the truck with the brakes carried thereby is quite as easily and simply accomplished.

It will further be observed that all operating mechanism for the brakes is at a relatively high position. There is no operating mechanism which extends downwardly, and nothing like that very largely if not universally in use at the present time which extends below the level of the spring pan and quite close to the road bed, and which is a cause of considerable injury or destruction to the brake mechanism by reason of striking against a. part of the road bed which may be lifted above where it should be. It is further evident that the cumbersome brake beams now used which extend from the inner side of one side of the truck toward the other side. and are carried by and between the side frame members of the truck, are wholly eliminated. Such elimination of brake beams removes the danger which is present and which occurs frequently of accidental disconnection of the pins from which the beams are suspended and eliminates the brake beam dropping down to strike the road bed with resultant damage to the road bed, destruction of the brake mechanism and danger of wrecking a train. Such elimination of brake beams and other parts obviates the necessity of a great deal of disassembly which has previously been necessary. In

andbrake levers andlower brakefrods..have.to:be disconnected andremoved, with a removal .of-v nu.- merouspivotpins .and-.with a likelihood of loss of sorne.of:thezparts before reassembly'took place.

The :structure: which. I have produced. permits th'eluse'of permanent pivot-pins, none of which have-turbe removed for. disassembling a siderframe member ofia truckiexcept: thatl at` 48... Itis also evident that the major portion of themechanism is located directlyabove lthe-pan..9 and if Aany pivotorrconnecting pin, such as 35, '139,11'4land 44 should 4for anyy reasonbecome fdisconnected from the parts with which. associatedpthesame,drop down-into and are held bythe panz9. f The construction v'is thuspne v of a .very useful, '-simple, practical vand economical nature;

While 'I have shown and described the preferred embodiment of.l my invention 'and the manner in whichzl prefertonbuild' the sameiwhere it is built new, my invention is readily applicable toA trucks of-'cars 'now in use.l Such trucks at their inner sides are provided with brackets .53: (Figs. 11' and 12), 2from .-which brake beams which carry the brake'shoes are suspended. In applying my invention. toi-present dayk truck construction such brakefbeamsand'the parts carried'thereby are removedan'dimembers 54" and 55 arevmountedV on said brackets as by` rods or. pins S56. 'Such members.= 545. andf\55 voccupy the sameal'nosition, serve the' same purposeand'are equivalent-muse to' the bosses 2| and 22 previously described. They carry the. bars 32 and 33 respectively, and between the same the plate 23 is mounted carrying the various elements 34, the links 38 and 40 and the like. The only addition which has to be made to the truck frame member is the welding or otherwise permanent attachment of the ears` 46 toa vertical member, corresponding to the part 8 of the truck frame member, on which to pivotally mount the. link 45. With such construction the brake beams and the manner of carrying the brakes thereby are eliminated and essentially the same results are obtained using the same brake setting and operating mechanism. This change in structure is fully shown in Figs. 11 and 12, and with such structure the same simplicity of operation, readiness and ease of disassembly for replacement and repair, cheapness of construction and the like are attained as in the first described structure.

The invention is defined in the appended claims and is to be considered comprehensive of all forms of structure coming within their scope.

I claim:

1. In a construction having spaced axles with wheels thereon and truck frames at opposite ends of the axles, said truck frames being removable by movement outwardly in a direction parallel to the axes of the axles, said truck frames having extensions thereon, braking means mounted upon said extensions, link mechanism for operating the braking mechanism, means for connecting the link means onto the braking mechanism, and means for supporting in part the operating means for the brake mechanism, this means extending interiorly of the wheels, and means for supporting the supporting means for pivotal movement for the purpose described.

2. In combination, two spaced truck frames, wheel and axle constructions mounted at the opposite ends of said truck frame to hold the frames in parallel positions and also to revolubly mount the said axles, a bolster removably mounted in :the truck frames, braking mechanisms for the respective wheels, and meansfor operating the braking mechanism including lever members, means for pivoting one end of said lever members onto the respective truck frames and actuating means connected at the other end of the said lever members, said lever members being 1ocated in the same horizontal plane as the bolster at all points located between the respective wheels whereby they are protected and shielded from injury. Y

3. A combination of elements as set forth in claim 2 in which a link support is provided for each of said levers, and means on the respective truck frames for supporting said levers.

4. A combination of elements as set forth in claim 2 in which means is provided for supporting the said members for horizontal movement, said supporting means having a. mounting whereby it may be lifted to provide both pivotal and universal movement thereof for the purpose de.-

scribed. Y

5. In combination, a truck frame having journals at opposite endsl thereof, axles carrying wheels mounted in said journals, said truck frame having extensions extending into the plane of the said wheels, said Wheels being in the same plane, a plate mounted upon said extensions, braking means mounted upon said plate andmeans for operating said braking means. Y

6. The combination of elements as set forth in claim 5 inwhich the plate is pivotally mounted upon one end and detachably connected upon the other end for the purpose described.

'7.v In a device having two wheels and means for revolubly mounting the same in the same plane in spaced apart relationship, the combination of, a block, a brakeshoe for each wheel, linkage between each brake shoe and the block, means for pivotally mounting said block whereby movement Vabout its pivot causes actuation of the brake shoes, said block being eccentrically located about said pivot whereby gravity aids in releasing the said shoes from the Wheels.

8. In a side truck frame having extensions thereon, the combination of a. braking mechanism mounted on said extensions, said braking mechanism including a plate mounted upon said extensions, said plate having depending portions at opposite sides, a block pivoted between said depending portions, brake shoes located at opposite ends of said block and linkage'connected onto the respective brake shoes, one of said sets of linkage being pivoted onto the block at one side of its pivot and the other set of linkage being connected onto the block at the opposite side of said pivot for the purpose described.

9. A combination of elements as set forth in .claim 8 in which the pivot between Vthe depending portions and the block permits longitudinal movement whereby the pressure on the brake shoes will beequalized.

, HARRY A. MILLS. 

